Amazon Studios Announces the Cast of Mozart in the Jungle

Amazon Studios today announced casting for “Mozart in the Jungle,” a Paul Weitz-directed pilot that will debut on Prime Instant Video and LOVEFiLM early next year. Written by Academy Award-nominee Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited), Jason Schwartzman (Moonrise Kingdom, Rushmore) and Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), “Mozart in the Jungle” is about sex, drugs—and classical music—and shows what happens behind the curtains at the symphony can be just as captivating as what happens on stage.

Gael Garcia Bernal (The Motorcycle Diaries) stars as Rodrigo, the hotshot new conductor of the New York Symphony. He is joined by Malcolm McDowell (“Franklin & Bash”) as Thomas, a more seasoned conductor being forced into retirement by Rodrigo, Lola Kirke (Reaching for the Moon) as the impressionable oboist Hailey, and Bernadette Peters (“Smash”) who plays Gloria, the Chairwoman of the Board of the symphony. “Mozart in the Jungle” also stars Saffron Burrows (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent“) as Cynthia, a cellist in the middle of an affair with Thomas, Peter Vack (“CBGB“) as Joshua, a talented dancer out of Julliard who becomes Hailey’s love interest, and Hannah Dunne (This is It) as Lizzie, Hailey’s friend and roommate.

“It’s an excellent and fun cast,” said Paul Weitz, Director and Executive Producer. “They all enjoyed stepping through the looking glass into characters who are obsessed with a very different discipline.”

In early 2014 customers will be invited to watch, provide feedback and help determine which pilots should be produced as series to air exclusively on Prime Instant Video and Amazon’s LOVEFiLM in the UK. Pilots include “The After” from Emmy-nominee Chris Carter (“The X-Files“), “Bosch,” based on the best-selling Harry Bosch book series by Michael Connelly, “The Rebels” from Matt Alvarez and Michael Strahan – the former New York Giants football player and host of Live with Kelly and Michael, and “Transparent” from Emmy-nominee Jill Soloway (“Six Feet Under“).